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4 Need for Tribal Transportation Safety Planning Native Americans Highest risk of motor-vehicle related death of all ethnic groupsHighest risk of motor-vehicle related death of all ethnic groups For ages 4 to 44, motor-vehicle related injuries are leading cause of deathFor ages 4 to 44, motor-vehicle related injuries are leading cause of death Total fatalities down from 42,884 to 41,059 (2003 to 2007) Reservation fatalities up from 325 to 356 (2003 to 2007) Note: only reported fatalities Low safety belt use (78 percent fatalities 1999- 2004) High alcohol use (57% fatalities 1999-2004) 4

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6 Road Characteristics and Maintenance Most Tribal lands are in rural, isolated locations Road maintenance on reservations is generally lacking due to scarce resources Rural reservation road data is often limited or outdated Reservation roads often lag behind other road systems in design and safety standards Traffic markings and signs are limited

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7 Data Management BIA and Tribal police departments often do not have a standardized system for collecting and storing crash data Tribal traffic records are likely to be stored in multiple departments Sovereignty issues More detail in Data Module

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9 Impaired Driving 65 percent of Native American fatal crashes involved alcohol, compared to the national average of approximately 47 percent (1982 to 2002) More than 50 percent of Native American drivers in fatal crashes were over the legal limit (>=.08 BAC) (1999–2004, FARS) BIA estimates 75% of all reservation incidents involve alcohol

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10 Limited Law Enforcement Resources 2,380 BIA and tribal officers police 1.4 million Native Americans on 56 million acres of land About half of the number of officers per capita in other American communities Most reservations are rural and tribal members are located in small isolated communities remote from the tribal headquarters Tribal/BIA police spend most of their resources on law enforcement activities other than traffic enforcement 10

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11 Pedestrian Crashes Pedestrian fatality rates – five to seven times the national average Alcohol use – almost 70 percent had been drinking High incidence of train – pedestrian fatalities

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13 What is Transportation Planning? Process of developing strategies for design, construction, operation, maintenance and safety improvements of transportation facilities Purpose is to move people and goods and provide services to residents Objective is to maximize the transportation benefits from the resources invested

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14 Why Engage in Transportation Planning? Manage resources Address transportation needs and priorities SafetySafety Economic developmentEconomic development Land useLand use Quality of lifeQuality of life Engage the public Develop investment strategies Adapt the system to meet current and future needs 14

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21 Crashes Aren’t Accidents Crashes Aren’t Accidents Most crashes are preventableMost crashes are preventable Injury prevention is a public health issueInjury prevention is a public health issue Transportation Safety Planning is critical for improving the safety and quality of life for Native Americans

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39 Navajo Nation Roadway Safety Strategies Fencing for roads with high rates of animal crashes Street lights for roads with high crash rates after dark Lighting and intersection design for intersections with high crash numbers Access control for areas of development with high numbers of crashes Sidewalks and pedestrian crossings for roads with high pedestrian crash rates 39

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40 What are the planning products and desired outcomes of transportation safety planning?

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41 Products and Desired Outcomes Coordination with External Planning Processes Participate in development of the transportation plans and programs Participate in development of state/regional transportation safety plans… particularly the SHSP Best Practices Maricopa Association of Governments (Phoenix MPO) has two tribal members Montana’s SHSP includes Tribal component and involvement

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45 Tribal Transportation Safety Management System Federally mandated that BIA develop a SMS to address safety on Tribal lands Administered by BIA and FHWA with assistance from other safety partners Each Tribe is encouraged, but not required, to develop its own SMS 45

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48 Tribal Safety Planning Examples Northern Plains TTAP Dennis TrustyDennis Trusty Richard HallRichard HallMarketing “Roads are color blind”“Roads are color blind” Empowering the Tribes to invest in safetyEmpowering the Tribes to invest in safety Roadway safety investments are good for Indian Country and local towns and villagesRoadway safety investments are good for Indian Country and local towns and villages

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52 IRR Transportation Planning Funds “Up to 2 percent of funds made available for IRR each fiscal year shall be allocated to those Indian Tribal Governments applying for transportation planning pursuant to the provisions of the Indian Self- Determination and Education Assistance Act” (23 U.S.C. §204 (J)) In addition to the 2 percent set-aside, Transportation Planning is an eligible item that can be funded with a Tribe’s share of IRR funds

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53 IRR Program Funds Allocated to tribes based on a Tribal share formula determined from population and data in the IRR Inventory Priorities for construction and improvement of roads, bridges, and transit facilities IRR Program Funds may pay for the local match for many other fund categories A Tribe may use up to $35,000 or 5% of its IRR Program construction fund, whichever is greater, for transportation planning.

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54 IRR Process Administered by BIA DOT and FHWA Federal Lands Highway Office Available to Indian Tribal Governments for transportation planning on Indian lands Tribes prioritize how IRR funds will be used at the tribal level

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55 IRR Eligible Activities Transportation planning Tribal representation at transportation planning meetings Preparation of application for funds from other sources Planning related activities for other modes such as transit Employment of a transportation planner Research of right-of-way records for transportation planning purposes Other activities in a proposal mutually agreeable to the Indian Tribal Government and the Secretary of the Interior

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57 BIA Indian Highway Safety Program (IHSP) Set aside in SAFETEA-LU for Tribal governments Funded by NHTSA; BIA considered a state Administered by BIA Office of Indian Highway Safety Program in Albuquerque Many of the same programs available to states

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65 Polling Question Please tell us which of the following categories best describes your work. Tribal transportation planner Tribal transportation engineer Tribal or BIA law enforcement Health/Safety professional Federal or State engineer or planner ConsultantOther

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67 Polling Question On a scale of 1 to 5 with 1 being the highest score; how well did this webinar meet your needs? A. Learned a lot and can follow up B. Learned new information I think I can use C. Informative but not sure how I can use the information D. Interesting but not of much practical use E. Webinar did not meet my expectations and needs